District 6 Game of the Week Prev

The buzz is already in the air and a playoff type atmosphere pervades the Bellefonte area as the undefeated Red Raiders tangle with the unblemished Clearfield Bison on Friday to see who will be king of the mountain.

The Mountain in question is the Mountain Athletic Conference Seven Mountains Division. Both squads are 3-0 and set atop the conference standings, Bellefonte at 2-0 and Clearfield at 1-0.

Last season's success for both clubs has carried over into 2005. The Bison are the defending District 9 AAA champs, while Bellefonte made it to the District 6 AAA finals before falling to Johnstown. Now the showdown for the potential MAC title looms on the horizon.

Quarterback Andrew Janocko leads the Clearfield offense. The senior has completed 38-of-57 for 508 yards and two scores. His favorite targets are Beau Ryan (14-168), Matt Morgan (9-100), Andrew Jury (7-83) and Curtis Campman (6-134).

Lucas Aughenbaugh, who has 271 yards on 34 carries, paces the ground attack. Aughenbaugh is nursing a knee injury and is day-to-day. Campman is next in line with 160 yards on 30 carries, while fullback Shane Davis has 145 yards on 42 attempts.

"Clearfield always has skill athletes, especially at the receiver position. They always have three wide receivers that can go anywhere," said Bellefonte head coach Tom Gravish, who coached the Red Raiders to a district title in 1999. "They have a really big fullback that concerns us and two nice tailbacks.

"You can't try to do anything special with them. You just have to play good, sound fundamental football - blocking and tackling. Their defense is the same style every year. They have 11 guys in the box and they bring it. We told the guys we have to be really physical this week at the point of attack."

The Red Raiders have Chris Snare at QB, Josh Gentzel, Zach Robbins and Todd Bechtel man the backfield, while Nate Carson and Mike Englert handle the receiver slots.

"They have some very good athletes who are very fast. Bellefonte has a quick quarterback, a big running back and lots of speed at the receiver position," said Clearfield head coach Tim Janocko, a 1981 graduate of Penn State, who brings a 147-73-3 career record into the contest. "They are a well-balanced, solid football team. We work very hard to be balanced as well. We just have to match up our best players with theirs and see what happens.

Bellefonte is a senior-dominated team and their speed is a concern. We have to find a way to contain that speed and keep the game close to where we have a chance in the end to win."

For Gravish the key to the game is simple and basic. Control the line of scrimmage through a balance of running and passing.

"I'd like to see us make more plays in the passing game than they do and rush the ball better," Gravish stated. "Hopefully, we have a couple playmakers at the receiver position that make more plays than Clearfield does.

A lot of these top kids will be matching up with each other. Nate Carson will be matched up with Beau Ryan and Ryan will probably be on Nate. It'll be who wins those match-ups that decide this game."

Balance and character have been traits of all Janocko led squads and this season is no different. Never more so was that character on display than against Indian Valley last week.

The Bison battled back from a 20-14 deficit with a 12-play, 96-yard drive for the winning score with 19 seconds left in regulation. They also have an overtime victory over Bradford this season.

"Our kids play hard. We have worked to instill that in them. My defense coordinator, Forrest Campman, has been with me for 21 years and we stress character and a strong work ethic," remarked Janocko. "When you work hard, good things will happen."

As with any contest between two good clubs, turnovers may be the crucial factor in deciding the outcome.

"We've thought we matched up with them pretty well the last two years and then we had a horrible night with turnovers," said Gravish. "Hopefully, we can win the turnover battle this time. If it's zero turnovers to zero turnovers, it should be a real nice game."

The stage is set and the Friday night-lights are ready to burn. All that's left to see is who will be the team standing on top of the mountain.

(thanks to Clearfield Progress Assistant Sports editor Rich Murawski for the Clearfield stats)

Bishop Guilfoyle (Dist 6 A 1-2-0) @ Philipsburg-Osceola (Dist 6 AA 1-2-0)

Bishop McCort (Dist 6 AA 3-0-0) @ Bishop Carroll (Dist 6 A 3-0-0)

Cambria Heights (Dist 6 AA 0-3-0) @ Central Cambria (Dist 6 AA 1-2-0)

Central Mountain (Dist 6 AAA 0-3-0) @ Red Land (Dist 3 AAA 1-2-0)

Claysburg-Kimmel (Dist 6 A 1-2-0) @ Juniata Valley (Dist 6 A 2-1-0)

Conemaugh Valley (Dist 6 A 3-0-0) @ Conemaugh Township (Dist 5 A 1-2-0)

Ferndale (Dist 6 A 1-2-0) @ Berlin Brothersvalley (Dist 5 A 2-1-0)

Glendale (Dist 6 A 1-2-0) @ Moshannon Valley (Dist 6 A 2-1-0)

Huntingdon (Dist 6 AAA 1-2-0) @ Lewistown (Dist 6 AAA 2-1-0)

Indian Valley (Dist 6 AAA 1-2-0) @ Punxsutawney (Dist 9 AAA 0-3-0)

Ligonier Valley (Dist 6 A 1-2-0) @ Homer Center (Dist 6 A 1-2-0)

Mount Union (Dist 6 A 0-3-0) @ Bellwood-Antis (Dist 6 A 2-1-0)

Northern Cambria (Dist 6 A 1-2-0) @ Saltsburg (Dist 6 A 1-2-0)

Penn Cambria (Dist 6 AA 3-0-0) @ Bedford (Dist 5 AA 1-2-0)

Penns Manor (Dist 6 A 0-3-0) @ Purchase Line (Dist 6 AA 3-0-0)

Penns Valley (Dist 6 AA 0-3-0) @ Chestnut Ridge (Dist 5 AA 3-0-0)

Richland (Dist 6 A 1-2-0) @ Johnstown (Dist 6 AAA 1-2-0)

Southern Huntingdon (Dist 6 A 3-0-0) @ Williamsburg (Dist 6 A 0-3-0)

State College (Dist 6 AAAA 0-3-0) @ Altoona (Dist 6 AAAA 1-2-0)

Tyrone (Dist 6 AA 3-0-0) @ Bald Eagle Area (Dist 6 AA 1-2-0)

West Branch (Dist 6 A 0-3-0) @ Tussey Mountain (Dist 5 A 2-1-0)

Westmont-Hilltop (Dist 6 AA 2-1-0) @ Somerset (Dist 6 AAA 0-3-0)

Clearfield (Dist 9 AAA 3-0-0) @ Bellefonte (Dist 6 AAA 3-0-0)

DuBois (Dist 9 AAAA 3-0-0) @ Hollidaysburg (Dist 6 AAAA 2-1-0)

Meyersdale (Dist 5 A 1-2-0) @ Portage (Dist 6 A 3-0-0)

North Star (Dist 5 A 1-2-0) @ Blacklick Valley (Dist 6 A 0-3-0)

Blairsville (Dist 6 A 3-0-0) @ United (Dist 6 A 2-1-0)

Laurel Valley (Dist 6 A 2-1-0) @ Marion Center (Dist 6 AA 1-2-0)